During my time spent as a Butlins Skegness Redcoat
I was known
simply as "Alan" - although guests often referred to me as "Basil,"
owing to my often having a Basil Brush figure in my top pocket."
However for the last 30-plus years have been known, in my capacity
of professional comedian, and author, as "A.J" Marriot.

My time spent as a Butlins Skegness Redcoat totalled
only thirty-one weeks of my years on this planet; but was, without
question, the most memorable period of my life, and one I wish I could repeat.
However, I do realise that things could never be the same. "Never go back"
is advice well worth taking, but I know I will ignore that advice and, in
May 2008, will return to Skegness to try to find some of those ghosts. Most
likely there will be grief at what is no longer there, but I know that the
sounds and sights of those weeks in the early seventies will be revived and
will still excite my nostalgic nerve-ends.

Here's me with two nice ladies, and a pretty little
girl, outside
the Queens Showbar. I hope it's still there when I visit in 2008.(Photo taken July 1973 - courtesy of the ladies pictured.)

In the meantime I hope that, by hosting this website,
and corresponding with like-minded people, my pangs of nostalgia will be
somewhat whetted.For those of you
who have experienced the magic of wearing that "coat of many colours" (well,
three), I hope this site will help you too to remember those Golden Years
- "golden," as we all well know, being a mix of Red, Yellow, and
Blue.

("A.J" Marriot - January
2007)

o-o-o-0-o-o-o

o-o-o-0-o-o-o

My time on holiday camps didn't end with Butlins,
as I went on to do another ELEVEN seasons with
various other companies. But none captured the thrill and atmosphere of that
first season at Skeggy.

I also spent short periods in Lanzarotte, Ibiza, and Corfu; plus 4 weeks
on a cruise ship.
When not in a residency, I did the Club, Theatre and Cabaret circuit as a
stand-up Comedian -
and worked all over Britain, plus the Isle of Man, Jersey, Spain, Ibiza,
Corfu, and Canada.

I'm sure you'll agree that the above is not a
bad CV for someone with no talent.